This type of leather brogans was issued to Union soldiers during the Civil War; although most shoes were issued in “rights” and “lefts,” some were straight last (no right or left), and with daily wear the shoes formed to the feet. Uncomfortable, with thin soles, brogans generally wore out quickly during active campaigning. Many African-Americans received their first regular issue of reasonably high quality shoes when they enlisted in the Union army.
While African-Americans enlisted as soldiers, they were not treated equally with white soldiers. African-American soldiers were initially paid $10 per month, from which $3 was automatically deducted for clothing. White soldiers received $13 per month, with no clothing allowance deducted. Unequal treatment lowered morale among African-American troops. Colonel James Williams (1st Kansas Colored Infantry) reported to Colonel Charles W. Blair, post commander at Fort Scott that, “My men have never yet received our cut of Bounty or of pay although they have now been in the Service nearly 10 Months, while other troops about us have been regularly paid.”
This pair of brogans has patches on the heels, a stitched repair, and have been resoled possibly more than once.
Brogan is a Gaelic word meaning little shoe.
Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 30439
